Expansible bracelet



EXPANSIBLE BRACELET Filed June 3, 1949 if 7 mam 1) a a 2 3 J 1 J 11 ,2 11 9 [a aerator i I Geo)" eA.Z [e6 Patented June 19, 1951 2,557,292 EXPANSIBLE BRACELET George A. Ingleby, Cranston, R. I., assignor to The Hadley Company, Incorporated, Providence, R. I., a corporation of Rhode Island Application June 3, 1949, Serial No. 96,967

4 Claims.

This invention relates to expansible bracelets and more particularly to bracelets of the type used to secure a watch or other object to the wrist.

Objects of this invention are to provide an expansible bracelet which is attractive in appearance, which is durable in construction, which adapts itself to wrists of dififerent sizes, which is comfortable to wear and which advances theart generally.

In a, broad aspect the invention contemplates a watch bracelet comprising a plurality of articulate links each of which includes three telescoping members. Means are provided for yieldably maintaining the members in telescoped relationship. Coupling means pivotally connect the innermost member of each link with the outermost member of the adjacent link. Such coupling means may be, for example, a plurality of pins of which engages the aligned apertures of two associated pairs of cars of adjacent links thereby pivotally to connect the innermost member ofeach link with the outermost member of the ad jacent link.

In another aspect the watch bracelet comprises a plurality of articulated links each of the links including an outer member, an intermediate. member telescoping within the outer member, and an inner member telescoping within the intermediate member. A first spring is interposed between the intermediate member and the outer member, a second spring being interposed between the intermediate member and the inner member to maintain the members in telescoped relationship.

In another aspect intermediate member telescopes within the outer member, and has a longitudinal channel in one side thereof which forms two compartments. The two springs are arranged respectively in the compartments, one of the springs being interposed between the intermediate member and the outer member, the other spring being interposed between the intermediate member and the inner member to maintain the members in telescoped relationship.

In still another aspect each of the links includes an outer member having a tab at one end thereof, an intermediate member telescoping within the outer member and having a longitudinal channel in one side thereof which forms two compartments, one end of each of which compartments is obstructed by a respective tab. An inner member telescoping within the intermediate member has a tab upon the end opposite the end of the outer member having the tab thereupon. Two springs are arranged respeculated links each of which includes an outer member having a tab upon one end and a pair of projecting ears upon the other end thereof. An

intermediate member telescopes within the outer member and has a longitudinal channel in one side thereof which forms two compartments, one end of each of which is obstructed by a respective tab. An inner member telescoping withinthe intermediate member has a tab upon the end oppcsite the end of the outer member having the tab thereupon. A second pair of ears project from the other end of the inner member which pair fits within the first pair of cars upon the end of the outer member of an adjacent link. Each of the cars has an aperture in alignment with the apertures of the associated ears. Two

springs are arranged respectively in the compartments, one of the springs being interposed between one of the tabs upon the intermediate member and the tab upon the outer member. The other spring is interposed between the other tab upon the intermediate member and the tab upon the inner member to maintain the members in telescoped relationship. A plurality of pins are used each or" which engages the aligned apertures in two associated pairs of ears of adjacent links thereby pivotally to connect the inner member of each link with the outer member of the adjacent link.

For the purpose of illustration a typical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan view with the links telescoped Fig. is an isometric view of an outer link member;

Fig. 11 is a similar view of an intermediate link member; and

Fig. 12 is a similar view of an inner link member.

The particular embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration comprises a bracelet having a series of articulate links each comprising three telescoping members, an outer member I, an intermediate member 2 and an inner member 3 (Fig. 3). The sides of the outer member I are extended in the form of ears 4 (Fig. 10) having aligned pivot openings such as the apertures 6. The opposite end of each inner member 3 (Fig. 12) is provided with a similar pair of ears 1 having aligned pivot openings 8. As is shown in Fig. 3 when the members are fitted together the ears 4 of one outer member I overlap the ears I of the next adjacent inner member 3, with the openings 6 in alignment with the openings 8, the two adjacent links being pivotally interconnected by coupling means such as a pivot pin 9.

The bottom of each intermediate member 2 is arched transversely to form a longitudinal channel ll extending lengthwise of the member on the left side of the center line (Fig. 11) to form two compartments. Disposed within one of the compartments is a coiled spring 2, a similar coil spring [3 being disposed inside the other compartment formed by the intermediate member between the channel II and the right side of the member as is shown in Fig. 5. Bearing against the one end of the spring I3 is a tab l4 (Figs.

6 and 12) extending inwardly from the side wall of the inner member 3. Similarly bearing against the corresponding end of the spring I2 is a tab I6 (Figs. 6 and 11) extending downwardly from the end of the channel ll. Bearing against the opposite end of the spring I2 is a tab ll extending upwardly from the bottom of the outer member I. Bearing against the opposite end of the spring I3 is a tab l8 extending upwardly from the bottom of the intermediate member 2. As shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the tabs I4 and 15 are bent over before the parts are assembled, but the tabs l1 and 18 are not bent over until after the members have been telescoped together and the springs have been inserted.

After the parts have been assembled and. the tabs l1 and I8 bent over, the spring 12 extending between the tabs 16 and I1 on the intermediate and outer members tend to hold these members in nested relationship and the spring l3 bearing on the tabs M and ill of the inner and intermediate members tends to keep these two members nested together. Thus the parts normally stand in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, '7, 8 and 9, but when the ends of the bracelet are pulled apart the telescoping members move relatively to each other to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A watch bracelet comprising a plurality of articulated links, each of said links including an outer tubular member of noncircuiar cross section having a tab at one end thereof, an intermediate member having a top and adjacent sides corresponding in shape with the top and sides of said tabs upon said intermediate member and iii the tab upon said outer member, the other spring being interposed between the other tab upon said intermediate member and the tab upon said inner member to maintain said members in telescoped relationship, and coupling means for pivotally connecting the inner member of each link with the outer member of the adjacent link.

2. A watch bracelet comprising a plurality of articulated links, each of said links including an outer member, an intermediate member telescoping within said outer member and having a longitudinal channel in one side thereof which forms two compartments, an inner member telescoping within said intermediate member, two springs arranged respectively in said compartments, one of said springs being interposed between said intermediate member and said outer member, the other spring being interposed between said intermediate member and said inner member to maintain said members in telescoped relationship. and coupling means for pivotally connecting the inner member of each link with the outer member of the adjacent link.

3. A watch bracelet comprising a plurality of articulated links, each of said links including an outer member having a tab at one end thereof, an intermediate member telescoping within said outer member and having a longitudinal channel in one side thereof which forms two compartments, one end of each compartment being obstructed by a respective tab, an inner member telescoping within said intermediate member having a tab upon the end opposite the end of the outer member having the tab thereupon, two springs arranged respectively in said compartments, one of said springs being interposed between one of said tabs upon said intermediate member and the tab upon said outer member, the other spring being interposed between the other tab upon said intermediate member and the tab upon said inner member to maintain said members in telescoped relationship, and coupling means for pivotally connecting the inner member of each link with the outer member of the adjacent link.

4. A watch bracelet comprising a plurality of articulated links, each of said links including an outer member having a tab upon one end, a pair of projecting ears upon the other end of said outer member, an intermediate member telescoping within said outer member and having a longitudinal channel in one side thereof which forms two compartments, one end of each compartment being obstructed by a respective tab, an inner member telescoping within said intermediate member having a tab upon the end opposite the end of the outer member having the tab thereupon, a pair of ears projecting from the other end of said inner member which fit within the ears upon the end of an outer member of an adjacent link, each of said ears having an aperture in alignment with the apertures of the associated ears, two springs arranged respectively in said compartments, one of said springs being GEORGE A. INGLEBY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,641,763 Jones Sept. 6, 1927 FOREIGN PATENTS 10 Number Country Date 109,424 Great Britain June 13, 1917 

